president obama will take the oath of oath there on monday. we're counting down to the inauguration. you're in "the situation room." >>> but first, the deadly drama unfolding right here -- right now, i should say, in the desert of eastern algeria. hostage rescue operation apparently still under way. an unknown number of captives are being held by militants who seized hundreds of people at a gas field near the libyan border, including a number of americans and other foreigners. we know many of the hostages have, in fact, been released. some managed to escape. but others are dead, others are still missing. and we've just received word that algerian forces are now trying to negotiate the release of the remaining hostages. cnn's foreign affairs correspondent jill dougherty is over at the state department. what's the latest information you're getting? >> reporter: wolf, secretary clinton says that the u.s. remains deeply concerned about those hostages who are still in danger. she's already expressed her condolences to the families of hostages from